FAR HILLS, New Jersey (May 19, 2009) -- Many of you are also USGA Members, so you may have seen the announcement of a really cool interactive website where golfers around the world can send their personal birthday wishes and memories to the legendary Arnold Palmer to mark his 80th birthday this September. You can do text, pictures, and even video messages. I encourage everyone to get involved!

The website invites people around the world to share personal stories and memories of Palmer and allows the public to view other fans’ appreciations of an American sports icon. The site, jointly designed and developed by the USGA and IBM, moves Palmer’s legendary career and life into the social media world.

“Even if you’ve never had the opportunity to meet him, it seems that almost everyone in and around the game has their own Arnold Palmer story,” said Rand Jerris, the USGA’s director of Communications and the USGA Museum.

“Perhaps he was a childhood hero, maybe you once saw him play, or you just have a favorite story about him. The key is that we’re looking for personal memories – honest, from-the-heart sentiments that capture the essence of what Arnold Palmer has meant to the game.”

Later this summer, the USGA Museum will assemble the most memorable submissions into a bound volume, for presentation to Palmer as an 80th birthday present.

I have been a huge Arnold Palmer fan my entire golfing life, taking inspiration from his "go for broke" attitude. I hope that you will take a look at the new website, and start off by viewing my post - which includes a letter I received from Mr. Palmer when I was 14 years old (click on the image twice to view the letter full size). And if you enjoy it, please give it a good rating!